about simon
Simon Montalvo (they/them) is a non-binary/transgender movement artist, researcher, and archivist born on the land of the Coahuiltecan and Karankawan peoples. They’re currently living on the land of the Massachusett and Pawtucket peoples, and are grateful for the generosity of the land that holds them. They recognize that this land acknowledgment is only a small part of their fierce commitment to the global Land Back movement; they will continue to uplift indigenous people’s voices, protest against colonialism and imperialism in all forms, protect their community, and explicitly stand with all oppressed peoples against colonial forces. Our liberation as a transgender and gender expansive community is only made possible through the years of fierce love, labor, and loyalty from our BIPOC community, and we must continue to stand in solidarity forever. May we stay resilient, joyful, and soft in the face of oppression.
Simon is interested in movement research that explores themes of the human condition driven by archival research and interviews of the community they serve. They’re currently a company member of Jo-Mé Dance Theatre, a mentee of Midday Movement Series’ BIPOC Mentorship Program, and a recipient of the Next Steps for Boston Dance Artists grant through the Boston Foundation.
Simon holds a BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and their choreography has been presented at the Boston Center for the Arts, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and Project 31. Simon received the BCA’s Boston Dancemakers Residency for the 23/24 season, a Studio Space Grant through Urbanity Dance in 2023, and participated in aMaSSiT (a choreographic lab) 2023. Simon is largely focused on experimental improvisation, dance theater, radical community care, and moving in forms that make us feel things. These days, you can find Simon performing and choreographing in the Boston area, interviewing transgender and gender nonconforming people (contact them if you want to be interviewed!), and attempting to learn how to play the French Horn.
